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Shaw turns those piercing eyes and my heart speeds up and a cold sweat beads on my chest.
“When? What does when matter, lass? Do I track when a man makes deals with the Devil? Sometime before or after these troubles, he changed.” He returns his attention to Rob. “He’s captured some of our boys you say?”
I bite my lip to keep from saying more and nod.
“Right,” Rob says, pulling the attention of the room back to himself. “I was one of those men.”
“Then how are you standing here?” Shaw asks. “We’ve heard the tales of predilections.”
“Aye,” Rob says. “Luck and the blessing of God is all I can say. But I can tell you, also, that no matter what you’ve heard, what he’s doing is worse.”
The assembled mutter curses under their breath. Shaw places his fists on the table and leans forward.
“This is no hope of which you speak.”
“Aye, but here is the hope I bring. I know where he has the captives.”
“I could make a good guess as to that but what would be the difference? What can we do about it?”
“We have a plan. Chief Johnne has agreed to it, but we need a few more men to make it work. We’re going to rescue the captives.”
Shaw’s eyes narrow. He stands up and runs his fingers through his beard.
“We’ll go,” Drever interjects, and Gair grunts his agreement.
“It’s a fool’s mission and I can’t lose more men. We don’t have supplies to survive the winter as it is.”
“It’s not,” I say.
“And what does a woman know of this?” Shaw asks, glaring.
Rob hesitates and as the tension builds, my mouth dries and my throat feels as if its swelling. I cross my arms over my chest and meet Shaw’s glare, but my bravery is a show. I want to wilt under that gaze though there’s no way I’m going to give in. This is the path to save Duncan.
“She’s touched,” Rob says at last.
Shaw’s eyes dart to Rob then back to me, widening as they do. A slow smile spreads over his face.
“Well, why didn’t you say so?” he says.
Relief rushes in, washing away the tension in my muscles that I didn’t know was there. I take a breath and nod. He must be a believer in the old ways, but did Rob know that or was he gambling with my life? Watching him out of the corner of my eye I don’t know which it was.
“You’ll allow it?” Rob asks.
He shakes his head as he turns his back to us. Silence stretches. It’s a heavy blanket that turns the warm air stifling. I shift my weight from foot to foot, waiting for him to speak. Doubts filter into my thoughts and I’m sure the longer this goes the more likely it is he’s going to say no. I play out possible outcomes over and over in my head.
“Aye,” Shaw says, turning back to us.
“Good,” Rob says. “I’m going to find a few more men from other camps and then we’ll pass back through here.”
“Ach, that will not work,” Shaw says.
“Why?” Rob asks.
Shaw picks up a letter from the table and waves it between us.
“Dear Lord Nicholas is hosting a feast in three days’ time,” he says. “He cordially invites an attendance. Fine food, fine wine, and, of course, the blessed entertainment of the ending of many MacGregor lives for the glory of God.”
“Three days?” Rob sputters.
